Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) in California: The Complete Guide by OilWell Cannabis

Here in California, where the cannabis conversation has evolved from underground whispers to mainstream wellness discussions, Rick Simpson Oil remains one of the most searched—and most misunderstood—cannabis products. Whether you’re exploring cancer support options in Los Angeles, managing chronic pain in the Bay Area, or seeking alternatives to pharmaceuticals in San Diego, you’ve likely encountered the term “RSO.” But what you’re actually looking at on dispensary shelves or online stores often bears little resemblance to what Rick Simpson actually created.

We wrote this guide for anyone in California navigating these questions because we believe you deserve honest, evidence-based answers—not hype, not promises, just the complete story. Our approach is simple: tell the truth about the science, respect the history that got us here, and give you the information to decide what’s right for you.

About Rick Simpson and Traditional RSO

Who Was Rick Simpson?

Rick Simpson was born in 1949 in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada. He wasn’t a doctor, scientist, or medical researcher—he was a power engineer and maintenance worker who fell twenty-five feet from scaffolding in 1997 while working at a hospital in Moncton. The aftermath included persistent tinnitus, dizziness, and post-concussion symptoms that conventional medicine couldn’t resolve. The medications either didn’t work or made things worse. When cannabis provided relief but his physician refused to consider it, Simpson’s distrust of the medical system deepened .

Simpson’s path into concentrated cannabis oil intensified after he learned about a 1974 NIH-funded study at the Medical College of Virginia, where THC reportedly slowed or shrank tumors in mice. That study—originally designed to demonstrate harm—became his touchstone, even though its findings were never replicated in controlled human cancer trials .

The pivotal moment came in 2003. Three bumps on his arm were diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma. Instead of conventional treatment, Simpson applied concentrated cannabis oil, covered them with bandages, and claimed they disappeared within four days. No biopsy confirmation. No clinical documentation. No peer-reviewed publication. But this personal experience became the origin myth of Rick Simpson Oil .

Important context: Simpson’s account is personal testimony, not medical evidence. The absence of independent verification means these events cannot be evaluated as scientific proof. They are, however, historically significant as the catalyst for a global movement.

The Traditional 60-Gram Protocol

After 2003, Simpson committed to giving oil away for free, claiming to help people with cancer, chronic pain, diabetes, infections, glaucoma, arthritis, depression, insomnia, and more . His protocol was specific:

• 60 grams over 90 days
• Week 1: Half a grain of rice-sized dose (10-15mg) three times daily
• Weeks 2-5: Double every four days, reaching 1 gram per day by week five
• Weeks 5-12: Maintain 1 gram daily, divided into three doses
• Administration: Primarily oral (sublingual or swallowed), with topical application for skin lesions
• Tolerance: Simpson claimed patients adjust to psychoactive effects within 3-4 weeks
• Post-protocol: 1-2 grams monthly maintenance

Critical Safety Context for California Consumers

This protocol has never been validated in controlled trials. The dosing assumes crude, unstandardized material with estimated 60-90% THC content, delivering 600-900mg of delta-9 THC daily—far exceeding any studied clinical dose. For perspective, the FDA-approved dronabinol is dosed at 2.5-20mg per day [13].

Real risks at these doses include severe intoxication, anxiety, panic, tachycardia, hypotension, and cannabis use disorder [1][13][14][15]. For California residents with complex medical conditions—especially cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy—these risks are compounded by drug interactions and the potential to delay proven treatments.

What Traditional RSO Actually Was

Understanding the original product helps you evaluate what’s sold in California today:

Source material: Single high-THC indica strain, no standardization
Extraction: Naphtha (petroleum-based) or 99% isopropyl alcohol—neither food-grade
Process: Bucket, solvent wash, rice cooker evaporation (8 steps documented in original sources)
Appearance: Nearly black, thick, tar-like oil with possible solvent-residual smell
Cannabinoid profile: 60-90% decarboxylated delta-9 THC, minor cannabinoids at natural ratios, unmeasured
Terpenes: Effectively destroyed by heat and solvent
Standardization: None—every batch different, no lab testing, no Certificate of Analysis
Residual solvent risk: Naphtha may contain benzene, toluene, carcinogens; incomplete purging common without lab verification

This is the product behind the legend. The question for California consumers is: does what you’re buying match this description? In most cases, the answer is no—and that’s often a good thing.

Simpson’s Claims vs. The Evidence Record

Simpson claimed RSO could cure cancer and numerous other diseases. He maintained pharmaceutical companies and government agencies actively suppressed this knowledge .

What Simpson was not: a scientist, physician, or researcher. He never conducted or published a clinical trial. His evidence was personal experience and testimonials .

What preclinical literature shows: THC and CBD can induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in certain cancer cell lines and animal models . This is scientifically interesting but not proof of human cancer cures.

What preclinical literature does not show: These findings have not translated to proven human cancer cures. No human clinical trial has demonstrated RSO cures cancer .

Institutional positions:

• National Cancer Institute acknowledges anticancer research but does not endorse cannabis as cancer treatment
• FDA has not approved any cannabis plant product for cancer [1]
• Health Canada has never approved RSO for cancer
• NCCIH identifies strongest evidence for epilepsy, chemo nausea, and HIV/AIDS appetite—not cancer cure [1]

What Simpson got right: He drew attention to cannabinoid research when the world ignored it, helping create conditions for the legal cannabis industry. The term “RSO” remains the most recognized name for full-spectrum cannabis extract .

What he overstated: Cancer cure claims exceed the evidence. Encouraging patients to use RSO instead of proven therapies carries genuine harm potential. Delaying treatment for treatable cancers is a documented concern.

About OilWell Cannabis and Our RSO Formula

Our Origin Story: From McAllen to Houston

OilWell Cannabis was founded by Colin Valencia in Houston, Texas. Colin grew up in McAllen—right across from Reynosa, Mexico—in one of the most economically challenged and dangerous border regions. By sixteen, he’d faced every form of violence imaginable and watched best friends killed or imprisoned. He could have taken darker paths, but cannabis offered something different: a plant he understood intimately and believed could help people.

Later, Colin became a formally trained software engineer, doing custom development for Baylor College of Medicine—one of the most prestigious institutions in the Texas Medical Center. That combination of deep plant knowledge and medical-grade technical precision defines everything we do.

Bentley: The Dog Who Started Everything

Our company began with a dog named Bentley—family, not just a pet. When Bentley became paralyzed, veterinarians said euthanasia was the only option. The pain medications would destroy his organs. Colin refused to accept that verdict.

A rescue worker named Jessica asked the question that changed everything: “You’ve moved how many tons of weed and you’ve never heard of CBD?”

Colin learned to create CBD golden paste. Bentley got up, walked over, and brought his ball to play. From paralyzed to playing fetch—that’s not placebo. Dogs don’t respond to placebo. That was cannabinoid medicine succeeding where pharmaceuticals failed.

Bentley lived ten more years, dying naturally at age twenty. During that decade, Colin developed specialized formulas for every age-related condition Bentley faced:

• Neurodegeneration → CBG’s neuroprotective properties and THCa’s PPARγ agonism for brain cell protection
• Dementia → CBC’s role in neurogenesis
• Glaucoma → THC’s CB1 agonism for intraocular pressure
• Arthritis → Multi-pathway anti-inflammatory approaches using CBD, CBG, THCa, and beta-caryophyllene

Single cannabinoids weren’t enough. Bentley’s conditions required multi-cannabinoid synergy. That precision—Bentley’s life depending on formula accuracy, not guesswork—became our foundation.

Colin’s Personal Journey: PTSD and Benzo Withdrawal

Colin also knows pharmaceutical dependence firsthand. Struggling with PTSD and benzodiazepine addiction, he quit Xanax cold turkey—a notoriously dangerous feat—using the cannabinoid knowledge he’d developed keeping Bentley alive.

The Peace Gummies formula was created during midnight experiments while fighting through benzo withdrawal. To ensure quick relief, we also offer Peace Gummies in vape form, which Colin personally uses to manage his insomnia and severe PTSD. This isn’t theoretical knowledge. Colin lived what RSO patients live: desperation for relief, failed pharmaceuticals, and the discovery that cannabinoids work when pills don’t.

Our Philosophy: Four Core Principles

Our RSO formulas are not traditional Rick Simpson Oil. They’re informed by the tradition but deliberately different in ways that solve problems Rick Simpson’s original method couldn’t address.

1. Accessibility over gatekeeping
No medical card required. Age 21+ only. We ship nationwide and internationally to California and beyond. Simpson believed medicine should be accessible; we’ve built a legal distribution model that makes that possible for California residents whether you’re in Sacramento, Fresno, or Orange County.

2. Patient-controlled potency
THCa is sold in its acidic, non-psychoactive form. You decide whether to use it raw (zero impairment, perfect for daytime use while working or driving) or decarboxylate it into delta-9 THC for full psychoactive potency. Simpson believed patients should control their medicine; we’ve engineered that control into the product chemistry.

3. Open-source formulas
We publish our complete formulas publicly—every cannabinoid, every milligram, every percentage. If you can’t afford our products ($129.99 for sublingual oil, $49.99 for vape cartridge), you can source ingredients and make your own version. Simpson gave his oil away free; we’ve adapted that ethos for the modern market.

4. Evidence-informed, not evidence-overstating
This entire document represents our commitment to honest education about what science actually says. Simpson operated without peer-reviewed literature; we have that access and use it to distinguish what’s well-supported from what’s overstated—the same standard we apply to everyone.

Farm Bill Compliance and California Access

The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp-derived products containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC. Our RSO Sublingual Oil contains only 90mg delta-9 THC in the entire 30mL bottle—3mg per mL—well under the legal threshold. All cannabinoids are hemp-derived.

For California residents： This means you can legally purchase, possess, and use our products without a medical cannabis card. Whether you’re in Los Angeles County, the Bay Area, San Diego, or anywhere else in California, the same federal framework applies. However, you’re responsible for understanding local California regulations, particularly regarding decarboxylation if you choose to activate THCa at home.

The THCa Conversion: Your Controlled Potency

Our sublingual formula contains 1,500mg of THCa. This creates three distinct usage options:

Raw (No Heat): All 1,500mg stays as THCa—completely non-psychoactive. This provides potential anti-inflammatory activity via COX-2 inhibition and neuroprotective potential via PPARγ agonism [12]. Perfect for California professionals, parents, or anyone needing daytime function without impairment.

Fully Activated (Home Decarboxylation): Heat the oil at 260°F for 45-60 minutes in an oven-safe glass container. This converts 1,500mg THCa into approximately 1,315mg delta-9 THC. Combined with the existing 90mg delta-9 THC, you get ~1,405mg total—comparable to traditional illegal RSO, 100% legally, because activation happens at your discretion after purchase.

Partial Activation: Transfer a controlled portion to a separate container and decarboxylate only what you plan to use, preserving the remainder as THCa. This gives California residents precise control over potency.

Vape Option: Our RSO Vape Cartridge automatically decarboxylates THCa at 400-450°F, delivering freshly activated cannabinoids with each puff.

The conversion: 1mg THCa = 0.877mg delta-9 THC after decarboxylation.

Solvent-Free Production: The Safety Advantage

Traditional RSO used naphtha or isopropyl alcohol—toxic, non-food-grade solvents that risk residual contamination. We use no extraction solvents. Our product is a formulated blend of individual cannabinoid distillates and isolates combined in controlled production.

The carrier is organic MCT oil—a food-grade lipid that facilitates sublingual absorption and provides neutral taste, unlike traditional RSO’s tar-like consistency and solvent-residual odor.

Third-party lab testing covers:

• Cannabinoid potency (±2% accuracy)
• Terpene profile
• Pesticides (400+ compound screening)
• Heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury)
• Residual solvents (FDA Class 3 limits <5,000 ppm)
• Microbial contaminants (E. coli, Salmonella, Aspergillus)

Certificates of Analysis (COAs) are available on request and through our website—transparency that California’s discerning consumers expect.

The Broader OilWell Portfolio

Beyond RSO, we produce formulations born from the same decade of Bentley’s journey and Colin’s benzo withdrawal experience:

Asshole Peach Gummy Rings — Our most popular product, particularly favored by California veterans for PTSD and pain relief. Each ring contains 268mg total cannabinoids: 28mg Delta-9 THC, 50mg Delta-8 THC, 20mg Delta-10 THC, 20mg THCo, 100mg CBD, 50mg CBG. ($39.99)

Peace Gummy Peaches — Born from Colin’s personal benzo withdrawal journey. Each peach delivers 320mg total cannabinoids: 30mg CBN, 15mg Delta-9 THC, 25mg Delta-8 THC, 100mg CBD, 150mg CBG. ($34.99)

SWEETEMintz Sugar-Free Vegan Peppermint Hard Candy — 28mg Delta-9 Nano THC, 100mg Nano CBD, 50mg CBG Isolate. Zero sugar, fully vegan. ($39.99)

Custom Creations — We design tailored products for specific cannabinoid ratios, delivery formats, or unique health needs, including vegan and diabetic formulations.

Two Product Formats: Sublingual Oil and Vape Cartridge

RSO Sublingual Oil — $129.99

• 30mL bottle (1 fl oz)
• 16,590mg total cannabinoids (553mg/mL)
• Seven cannabinoids: CBD 4,500mg, CBG 3,000mg, Delta-8 THC 6,000mg, THCa 1,500mg, Delta-9 THC 90mg, CBN 750mg, CBC 750mg
• Live terpenes 5%: limonene, myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, humulene, terpinolene
• Organic MCT oil base
• Graduated dropper (0.1mL increments)
• Onset: 15-45 minutes
• Duration: 4-6 hours
• Bioavailability: 13-19%
• ~40-60 doses per bottle

RSO Vape Cartridge — $49.99

• 1-gram cartridge (510-thread universal battery compatible)
• 900mg+ total cannabinoids
• Six cannabinoids: Same ratio as sublingual (THCa auto-decarboxylates at vape temp)
• Live terpenes 5%+
• Onset: 1-2 minutes (fastest delivery)
• Duration: 2-4 hours
• Bioavailability: 10-35%

When to Use Each Format

How OilWell RSO Compares

Traditional RSO products in California dispensaries typically offer:

• THC-only dominance (often 60-90% delta-9 THC)
• No CBG, CBN, or CBC targeting
• No patient-controlled potency (always psychoactive)
• Limited delivery options (oral oil only)
• Medical card requirement for dispensary access

Our formula provides:

• Seven defined cannabinoids at research-informed ratios
• Patient-controlled activation (raw THCa or converted THC)
• Two delivery formats for different California lifestyles
• No medical card needed (Farm Bill compliant)
• Ships directly to any California address

Condition-Specific Usage Context for California Residents

Chemotherapy Support:

• Pre-chemo: 0.5-1.0mL sublingual 1 hour before treatment
• Breakthrough nausea: 2-3 vape puffs (immediate relief)
• Post-chemo: 0.5mL sublingual every 6 hours as needed
• Sleep: 1.0-2.0mL sublingual before bed (delivers 25-50mg CBN)
• Evidence: Delta-8 antiemetic [9], Delta-9 nausea reduction [1][13], CBD anxiolytic buffering [3]

Chronic Pain (Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Neuropathy):

• Daytime: 0.3-0.5mL raw sublingual (zero impairment)
• Nighttime: 0.5-1.0mL decarbed sublingual + CBN for sleep
• Breakthrough: Vape as needed for rapid relief
• Evidence: CBD pain data [4], Delta-9 THC pain evidence [13], beta-caryophyllene CB2 activation [24], THCa COX-2 inhibition [12]

Sleep Disorders:

• Before bed: 1.0-2.0mL sublingual
• 2.0mL = 50mg CBN (dosage level in 2024 sleep literature [16][17])
• 1.0mL = 25mg CBN (above 20mg threshold associated with reduced sleep disturbance)

Anxiety and Stress:

• Daytime functional relief: 0.3mL raw sublingual (CBD + CBG)
• Nighttime: 1.0mL sublingual (full profile including CBN)
• Evidence: CBD anxiety data [3], CBG pharmacology [7][8], limonene entourage potential [20]

General California Titration Principle: Start low, go slow. Begin with 0.25-0.5mL sublingual. Assess effects over 2-3 hours before increasing. Individual responses vary by body weight, metabolism, tolerance, and concurrent medications.

Delivery to California: How You Can Access Our Products

Nationwide Shipping to California

• All 50 states where Farm Bill products are legal—including California
• USPS Priority Mail: 2-3 business days to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, and all California addresses
• FedEx/UPS Ground: 3-5 business days
• Discreet packaging with no cannabis branding visible (important for California professionals concerned about privacy)
• Temperature-stable packaging for California’s summer heat
• Tracking provided for all orders
• Signature-required option available

Direct from Our Houston Base
We operate from Montrose, Houston—the Texas Medical Center area serving over 10 million patient visits annually. While we don’t have a physical California location, our PANDEM1C SEO technology (14 million locations, 300+ AI models) ensures California patients can discover and access our products through organic search in their own language and context.

International Shipping Note: We ship to California and worldwide. International customers receive full documentation, COAs, and receipts for customs. You are responsible for verifying legality in your jurisdiction and accepting all customs risk.

How Our Formulas Connect to Evidence

Every cannabinoid and terpene in our formulas has a cited evidence profile in this document. We hold ourselves to the same standards we apply to the broader field:

• CBD (4,500mg): Strongest human evidence in our formula, particularly for seizure disorders [1][2], with emerging anxiety [3] and pain [4] data
• Delta-9 THC (90mg): Established for chemo nausea [1][13], but clear psychiatric and dose-related safety liabilities [15]
• Delta-8 THC (6,000mg): Pharmacologically relevant THC analogue with less robust safety characterization [9]-[11]
• THCa (1,500mg): Important precursor that stays non-psychoactive until heated [12]
• CBG (3,000mg): Promising minor cannabinoid with limited clinical validation [7][8]
• CBN (750mg): Reputation exceeds current clinical evidence [16][17]
• CBC (750mg): Emerging, preclinical-stage compound [18][19]
• Terpenes (5%): Plausible bioactivity, but human entourage proof remains limited [20][29]

We do not exempt ourselves from evidence standards. As Colin told ABC13 in 2019: “I’m not trying to sell people snake oil…there’s enough research out there that people just need to know and try and have the best possible version to base their opinions off of to give it a fair shot as to whether it’s right or wrong for them.”

Our Media Recognition: Seven ABC13 Features

Between 2019-2023, ABC13 Houston featured Colin and OilWell in seven comprehensive segments spanning business, law, medicine, and community health. This mainstream media validation from a major ABC affiliate establishes credibility that no marketing can replicate.

Key moments:

• September 2019: Colin’s foundational quote about not selling snake oil
• May 2021: The iconic “Maybe you want to get high” Delta-8 exchange with Steve Campion—radical honesty on network TV
• August 2021: $35,000 in product donated to encourage COVID vaccination, coordinated with Houston city government
• October 2021: Proactive Delta-8 removal before enforcement, warning other operators shipping Schedule I narcotics unknowingly
• October 2022: Revealing Colin’s personal marijuana conviction history, connecting criminal justice reform to lived experience

These features cannot be purchased—only earned. They document our consistency across years, breadth of expertise, community action, personal stakes, and evolution.

The Bottom Line for California

Whether you’re a cancer patient at UCSF Medical Center, a veteran with PTSD in San Diego, a chronic pain sufferer in the Central Valley, or a caregiver in Sacramento researching alternatives, you deserve the full picture:

Traditional RSO was crude, unstandardized, high-risk, and never clinically validated. Its cultural importance is real, but its limitations are significant.

OilWell RSO is formulated, multi-cannabinoid, lab-tested, patient-controlled, and legally accessible to all California residents age 21+. It honors the RSO tradition while solving the problems that limited the original.

The science is honest: Some compounds have strong evidence (CBD for seizures). Some have moderate evidence (Delta-9 THC for nausea). Some are promising but early (CBG, CBC). Some are overmarketed relative to data (CBN for sleep). We tell you which is which.

The access is real: We ship nationwide to California. No medical card. No gatekeeping. Full transparency.

The choice is yours: Raw and non-psychoactive, or fully activated at your discretion. Daytime functional use or nighttime therapeutic potency. Sublingual for sustained relief or vape for breakthrough moments.

Ready to Try OilWell RSO in California?

Order RSO Sublingual Oil — 16,590mg total cannabinoids, $129.99
Order RSO Vape Cartridge — 900mg+ cannabinoids, $49.99
View Complete RSO Guide — Full science, protocols, and ordering information

Contact us: (832) 416-2816 | [email protected]
Visit: 810 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77006 (Montrose)
Follow: @oilwellcbd on Instagram

Disclaimer: These products have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before use, especially if you have a medical condition, take medications, or are pregnant/nursing. Do not operate vehicles or machinery while under the influence of psychoactive cannabinoids. Keep out of reach of children. Buyer is responsible for verifying compliance with California state and local laws. Must be 21+ to purchase.

OilWell Cannabis: Born from Bentley’s miracle, built for people like you across California.